MRZ checker for passports and ID cards
Paste the machine-readable lines and see every field decoded and every check digit verified, or upload a photo of the document and we read the MRZ for you.
Only have a photo? Upload the document
We read the passport or ID card, decode the MRZ, check its digits and return the details ready for Excel or for guest registration. The document is not kept.
Drag your document or click to upload
PDF or image · max 2 pages
Free trial of up to 2 pages per document.
What the MRZ is
The machine-readable zone is the block of two or three lines of capital letters, digits and < signs at the bottom of a passport or on the back of an ID card. It repeats the key details of the page (name, document number, nationality, dates, sex) in a fixed layout defined by ICAO Document 9303, so that any reader in the world can decode it the same way.
How the check digits work
Each key field is followed by a check digit. Every character gets a value (0-9 for digits, 10-35 for A-Z, 0 for <), the values are multiplied by the repeating weights 7, 3, 1, and the sum modulo 10 is the digit. If one character is misread, the digit no longer matches: that is why an MRZ reader can tell a good read from a bad one.
740812 → 7×7 + 4×3 + 0×1 + 8×7 + 1×3 + 2×1 = 122 → 122 mod 10 = 2
Formats it recognises
- TD3 — passports: 2 lines of 44 characters
- TD1 — ID cards: 3 lines of 30 characters
- TD2 — older ID cards and some visas: 2 lines of 36 characters
- French national ID card issued before 2021: 2 lines of 36 with its own layout
Frequently asked questions
Is the MRZ I paste sent anywhere?
No. Pasted text is checked by code running in your browser; nothing leaves your device. Only if you upload a photo is the image sent to be read, and it is not kept.
Why does a check digit fail on a genuine document?
Usually because a character was typed or read wrong: O instead of 0, I instead of 1, a missing < filler. The checker shows which field fails and which digit it should have, so you can find the typo.
Does a valid MRZ mean the document is authentic?
No. Check digits catch reading and typing errors, not forgeries: anyone can compute them. Authenticity needs the physical security features or the chip.
Why is the date of birth shown with a century?
The MRZ only stores two digits of the year. We assume the most recent century that isn't in the future for the date of birth, and 20xx for the expiry date.